“Traditional Construction Is Doomed To Disappear:” Interview With the Portuguese Office Summary


Pré-fabricados de 1000m² / SUMMARY. Image © BuildingPictures

Pré-fabricados de 1000m² / SUMMARY. Image © BuildingPictures

Contemporary challenges and developments in technology inevitably trigger changes in the way we design and build our cities. SUMMARY is a Portuguese architecture studio focused on the development of prefabricated and modular building systems. Striking a balance between pragmatism and experimentalism, the firm develops prefabricated solutions in order to respond to a driving challenge of contemporary architecture—to speed up and simplify the construction process. Founded in 2015 by the architect Samuel Gonçalves, a graduate of the School of Architecture of the University of Porto, the studio has presented at prominent events such as the 2016 Venice Biennale. We talked with Samuel about the firm’s practical experience in prefabrication and modulation, as well as their experiments and forays into research.

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